Evel Knievel (October 17th, 1938 – November 30th, 2007) was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Over the course of his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps; in 1974, he failed an attempted canyon jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket.
Knievel was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999. He died of pulmonary disease in Clearwater, Florida, in 2007, aged 69.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
Evel Knievel first appeared in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade back in 1973, on his iconic motorcycle. Three years later in 1976, he made another appearance with his son Robbie Knievel along with his very own float. The float (furnished by Ideal Toy Company) featured a giant version of Knievel's motorcycle. The float would be retired in that same year, but it was originally supposed to appear in the 1977 Parade, but this was scrapped for unknown reasons.